How to Remove Mould

Nobody wants mould growing in their home or workplace and yet under the right environment (water, wood and warm conditions) mould can easily take hold and will continue to grow and rot away at whatever is in its path unless it is dealt with.

As is often the case, dealing with mould removal while it is still at an early stage is much easier and can be dealt with easily and effectively rather than waiting until there is a reald problem and you have to call in the experts.

Please note, if your mould has already developed into a more severe case of mould damage then you should call in the professionals.

Mould can cause certain health conditions and can lead to or exacerbate existing respiratory problems. Getting your mould treated by a professional is essential if you don’t deal with it in time.

That being said, if you only have a very slight mould patch somewhere in your home, this can easily be dealt with by some cleaning products which you would already have at home.

What is Mould?

Mould is a fungus that thrives in warm, humid conditions. Our homes are the perfect environment for their spreading. Condensation and high humidity in our homes are the perfect conditions for mould.

Please wear protective clothing like rubber gloves, respiratory mask, protection for your eyes and a protective clothes cover when working with mould.

What Causes Mould?

The first thing we have to determine is what has caused the mould problem. As mould needs water, wood and warmth to thrive then it usually caused by water ingress to your property. This can be from a leak such as a leaking shower running down behind the bath which hasn’t been sealed properly  or a leaking roof or gutter allowing water to run into your property. Another cause could be a leaking pipe somewhere behind the walls or under the floorboards. There are many reasons that could cause water damage.

Trace the Cause of the Mould

The first step to take is to trace the root cause of the mould. Once you determine where the water is coming from and stop any further damage, you can then start treating the mould.

If mould has formed then the chances are that the affected area has got pretty wet. THis will need to be dried out in order to treat the mould affected area.

There are various ways of drying this out. THis depends on how bug the problem is obviously but you can use natural drying methods such as opening a window and allowing the air and sun to dry it out (when we are lucky enough to get some sun). If this doesn’t work then you can turn up the heating or use a dehumidifier to help dry out the affected area.

Treating Mould

Once the affected area has been confirmed as being safe from further water damage and has dried out, then you can proceed with the actual treating of the mould.

If there is only a small area affected with mould, then the simple act of washing with either a bleach or vinegar is enough to treat the problem and prevent it returning. Assuming that the root of the problem has been dealt with.

Mould Removal with Bleach

One product which can be used when trying to remove mould is bleach.

Bleach can be a very effective mould removal cleaning agent as it not only treats the mould that you can see but it also leaves a protective layer so that it is difficult for the subsequent build up of more mould once the area has been treated by killing the bacteria and sanitising your surfaces. This means there will be less of the mould, or any mould returning.

Mould Removal with Vinegar

Treating mould removal with vinegar works in much the same way as bleach . The difference is that vinegar is a natural product and less harmful for the environment.

It still treats the affected mould area and prevents future growth but just in a more natural way and is safer for you, your family and any pets you may have in your home or business.

If you have a mould problem in East Kilbride which you can’t clear yourself, give us a call 24 hours a day, every day on (01355) 202656.